Reports: High-powered lawyer presses NASL demandsSports attorney Jeffrey Kessler, who represented MLS players in the 1996 lawsuit against MLS, its owners and U.S. Soccer, is sticking his legal thorn into U.S. Soccer again. The Financial Times and New York Daily News reported that Kessler is representing the NASL and demanding that U.S. Soccer reconsider proposed changes to its Division I standards that he says are "anti-competitive."Both publications cited a 13-page letter sent by Kessler July 23 to U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulatiand secretary general Daniel Flynn.

They said the proposed changes in Division I standards the NASL via Kessler objects to are:

-- 16 teams must play in the pro league, up from 12 (14 by Year 3);-- 75 percent of the teams must of them based in cities with more than 2 million people, up from more than 1 million.

Both reports cited Kessler's claim the proposed changes were intended to benefit Division I MLS (which has 20 teams and plans to add teams in Atlanta in 2017, as well teams in Los Angeles, Minnesota and Miami) at the expense of the Division 2 NASL (which has 11 teams and two more planned to start in 2016 and would like to obtain Division I standing).

“Doubling the population criteria now is an anticompetitive bait and switch," Kessler wrote, "with the purpose of entrenching MLS’s monopoly position at the very time when the NASL is threatening to become a serious competitor."

In 1996, Kessler represented eight players who sued MLS, its owners and U.S. Soccer in Fraser v. MLS (Fraser was Canadian Iain Fraser) file in Federal district court, attacking MLS's single-entity system on antitrust grounds.

MLS won in district court and the verdict was upheld on appeal. The decision did not affirm or deny that MLS was a single-entity but rather ruled MLS could not as a matter of fact dominate the market for players since it was a global argument.

U.S. Soccer's authority to regulate professional soccer -- specifically sanction international matches -- was the subject of another suit, ChampionsWorld LLC v. United States Soccer Federation, involving the bankrupt ChampionsWorld that operated an international series of matches in the United States. U.S. Soccer and MLS won by summary judgment, and the case was settled after an appeal was filed.

Kessler, who is currently New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady's lawyer in Deflategate, has ties in soccer going back to the old NASL, which he successfully represented against the NFL in its suit to have the NFL's cross-ownership ban lifted.USL: OKC's Koenig ties league scoring recordOKC Energy FC moved into first place and became the first Western Conference team to earn a berth in the playoffs with a 2-0 win over the Austin Aztex before a sellout crowd of more than 6,000 fans on at Taft Stadium. Striker Danni Koenig matched a USL record with his 20th goal of the season late in the game.

The goal moved the 28-year-old Dane even with Kevin Molino's mark set in 2014 for Orlando City. OKC still has four games remaining.

“We haven’t talked about the record," said Koenig. "Some guys said congrats now, but I want to enjoy the record after the season. When the season’s over, I’ll be glad to say I’m happy about it, but right now I’m focusing on the team.”

Klinsmann Names 23: No Lichaj, Lletget, or FinlayBenny Feilhaber? Nope. Jermaine Jones, Matt Besler, and Bobby Wood will return for the U.S. national team match against Peru, but Klinsmann did not add key players who might fill positions of need.

F YOU THOUGHT Jurgen Klinsmann's abject failure in the 2015 Gold Cup would lead to meaningful personnel changes as the U.S. prepared for its massive CONCACAF showdown with Mexico on October 10, think again.

FORWARDS

"The bigger picture is to get some answers for how we put things together for the Mexico game a month from now," Klinsmann said. "Obviously we want to continue to have a good flow of guys from the Gold Cup, but also to bring back guys who are in position to compete for a spot on the roster for Oct. 10. Our message to these guys is simple: prove a point that you want to be at the Rose Bowl."

Michael Bradley and Clint Dempsey will miss the Peru game but are slated to return for the match against Brazil.

Given the poor summer showings of John Brooks and Ventura Alvarado, it's somewhat surprising to see both players on the roster yet again. That said, Geoff Cameron and Matt Besler have returned to the team, which suggests that Klinsmann is at least considering other options over his preferred starting central defense pair.

The inclusion of Bobby Wood and Andrew Wooten will encourage U.S. supporters who are not convinced that Jozy Altidore is the answer at the tip of the spear.

Milan failed to reach an agreement with Zenit for Belgium international midfielder Axel Witsel.

Milan CEO Adriano Galliani said the club tried to sign Axel Witsel but they were unable to complete a transfer before the Serie A transfer window closed on Monday.

Sinisa Mihajlovic and Co. were determined to bolster their midfield, with Belgium international Witsel at the top of the list of potential recruits.

However, Witsel remained in Russia when the deadline passed, despite months of negotiations.

"We tried to the end for Witsel, but we knew it would finish this way," Galliani told reporters.

While Milan failed to add to the signings of Carlos Bacca, Alessio Romagnoli, Luiz Adriano and Mario Balotelli, Alessandro Matri and Hachim Mastour were both loaned out to Lazio and Malaga respectively.